The scoring rut Jason Kidd is mired in ranks as the worst in NBA playoff history.
Kidd enters tonight’s do-or-die Game 5 against the Pacers at the Garden scoreless in the Knicks’ past eight games — having missed all 16 of his shots during that span, including 10 attempts from 3-point range.
The eight consecutive scoreless games with at least 15 minutes played is the longest stretch in NBA playoff history, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The 40-year-old’s last points were in Game 2 of the Celtics series.
“I’m not a guy who’s gonna score. My job is to make other guys better,” Kidd said in the Game 4 aftermath in Indianapolis. “If the ball doesn’t go in, that doesn’t dictate my game.”
That mainly is true, as the future Hall of Fame point guard isn’t on the Knicks for his scoring punch — he averaged a career-low 6.0 points per game this season. Yet when he goes scoreless, it puts more pressure on his teammates to account for the missing production. In his 10 playoff games this spring against Boston and Indiana, Kidd has scored a total of just 11 points, shooting a combined 3-for-24 from the field.
Kidd is in the first season of a three-year deal — he has two years and more than $6 million remaining on it. But he has said there is no guarantee he will finish the contract.
Now the question becomes whether his struggles could influence his decision on his future. Could Kidd’s postseason horror show be an indication to him it’s time to call it quits and retire early?
Or could it make it tougher for him to go out on such a down note?
Coach Mike Woodson gushed about his veteran yesterday, pointing out his value.
“I would never kick J-Kidd to the curb. Kidd has been a positive for our club, our franchise, these players who play around him,” Woodson said. “We all still believe in Kidd. My thing is he still does some of the intangibles that might not show up in terms of scoring the ball to help you win.”